Remains of former Mohawk resident found in Sierra Mountains

The remains of a former Mohawk resident who went on a cross-country hiking trip in the California mountains have been found by sheriff’s deputies. Family members said Shane Badger, 36, of Irondequoit, went missing on July 26. They had last heard from him through a Facebook status update, and reported him mi...

By Staff reports

The Times

By Staff reports

Posted Aug. 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 7, 2012 at 7:21 AM

By Staff reports

Posted Aug. 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 7, 2012 at 7:21 AM

Independence, Calif.

The remains of a former Mohawk resident who went on a cross-country hiking trip in the California mountains have been found by sheriff’s deputies.

Family members said Shane Badger, 36, of Irondequoit, went missing on July 26. They had last heard from him through a Facebook status update, and reported him missing after a week had gone by without any type of communication despite several calls, text messages and email attempts.

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office said Badger was believed to be hiking in the Sierra Mountains in California when his car was found just north of the town of Independence, near Joshua Tree National Park, on Aug. 3. Two days later, on Aug. 5, his body was found in the Sierra Mountains.

While the body was sent to the Inyo County Coroner’s Office for positive identification, Badger’s wife, Erica, confirmed to Rochester media outlets his remains were found in California.

Badger leaves behind an 11-month-old son and a 16-year-old daughter.

He worked as a grounds supervisor at Rochester Institute of Technology and had been employed there since February. Officials and co-workers told Rochester media outlets he made an “immediate impact” on the campus and “took pride in efforts to enhance the beauty of the campus landscape.”

Badger moved to the Mohawk Valley from Connecticut in 2001, and served at onetime as a member of the town of Danube Planning Board. He was active with the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival and operated Walking Clover Farm. A former Owen D. Young Central School soccer coach, Badger also presented seminars on growing and marketing garlic for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County, and was a contributor to Indoor Soccer News.